Kids on OCC
 

Ok... so I want to give an opinion, and I want to make a suggestion.

We seem to be seeing more and more of the "younger" generation on this site. And by younger I mean under 18. We've always had a few kids floating around on here, and for the most part that's cool. Well, I just found out that we have a 10 year old kid on here now. We have a few more new members who are also under 18. I want to say, I have no issue with members who are younger, and in some ways it's cool. I probably would have thought it was cool to talk to guys who had an interest in Cubs like I did back when I was 12 and playing with our old 71, cultivating the garden and tugging things around I had built. But.... the internet didn't exist back then. Times have changed.

So, for the sake of argument, lets just use the age old "law" that at 18 you're an adult. That being the case, I'd like to know when someone on here is a minor, and not by having to ask.... or figure it out 15 posts into a thread while trying to help them fix a tractor, and getting frustrated because they just don't understand.

Here's my suggestion: Could we ad something to the profile of a person under 18 that denotes it? Just like under all our names we have "New Member", "Senior Member" and such. Something nice that just calls attention to the fact the a member is a minor? That way if they are asking questions in a thread, we know who we are dealing with? Or if they try to give advice to someone,( and they do) the OP can see that it is a younger member trying to help? I know, I know.... people will just lie about their age. Happens all the time. But eventually, it usually becomes obvious that they are a kid. If someone lies about their age, and it comes out, just add the "marker" to their profile and go on. Just hard to try and remember who is who with new members sometimes.

Just a suggestion..... :coffee:

(A) when people sign up, it is the "honor" system of the date they use for their birthdays. There is NO way to validate or confirm the data they provide. I have seen entries as little as one day old, to 115 yrs old. Most applicants "appears" to be honest about their DOB.

(B) "Junior Member" could be used as a distinction, but then it would be the honor system to know when they reached 18.

I know this can be an issue. I do watch for the youngin's. If a 10 yr old slipped through the cracks, send me a PM and ID this person(s).

Open to suggestions.

:bigthink:

Excellent idea and thought Jonathan.

Plenty of forums have something like this in place but I'm not sure how they go about doing it. Having to put your age in when you register is the only thing I can think of but they could easily lie. On most sites they are marked as "junior member"

Found a recent new member this morning with interesting data.

(A) DOB was in 1984

(B) Using a High School Student e-mail address :bigeyes:

:bash2::bash2:

Roland,
I've got to get to a meeting. I will PM you the info I found out last night as soon as I can. :beerchug:

I like the Jr. Member thing.

Maybe he is a high school teacher?

We always see out-of-schoolers show up in forums everywhere every year.
I guess they are too bored telling the world their every move on Fbook.

Some might come here legitimately seeking help.
Some just sign up to see how long they can keep a thread going.

Jonathan, when I read your title I thought it was about some kind of behavioral drug for yutes. I assume you are referring to their chronological age instead of their mental age or else a lot of us, myself included, probably should have the Junior badge. I like your idea and it would certainly help with our patience in explaining something or our terminology used. It makes perfect sense in the educational field, so why not in the forum where we also work to educate our yutes on the finer things of life, like cub cadets!!!!

Now, would someone please explain this to me again.....I think a comma was left out. :HeadScratch:


Cub Cadet 123

A good teacher teaches to the ability of his students. We, as the teachers, should do everything we can to educate our youth, for they are our future. Having a "youth" marker is a great idea. I'm sure all of us can do a better job of explaining if we know the member is a youngster. Good idea Jon.
And as a side note perhaps they can help us old timers with our computer issues!

We need more kids like me working on tractors instead of breaking legs on dirtbikes and ATVs (basically the entire male population of my school does that). Or using social media and gaming. If it continues like this, the entire cub lover group will shrink real quick.

That is good and true.

One of the biggest problems I see, there is a vast variety of really talented experts here that know all aspects of our Cub Cadets. Newbie ask question(s) and get answered. Then the newbie doesn't listen to the advice and goes off in different directions. Follow up information and/or pictures being sought, never get supplied. Some threads go on and on for several weeks or months and there is no end. Very disheartening when the newbie don't play ball or listen to the experts.

:bash2:

There is a plus side to riding ATV's, you have to pay attention and develop skill to ride them--much like operating a lawn mower, farm tractor or a piece of construction equipment. If one learns how to work on any of them, he can usually work on a Cadet--even if he has to ask questions or seek guidance.

Very well said Roland!!!

Well.... now kids are visiting here instead of paying attention in school. :bash2:

I vote we raise the joining age to 18. At least if people of that age come here and screw off while they are in a college class, it's their own problem.

I second this suggestion.

It wouldn't do any good cause they could simply lie. I suggest Roland shuts the site down from 8-4 so the school kids and big kids can get their work done.:biggrin2:

It is what it is, so you just need to encourage them and lead them to become adults in a civilized manner.

FYI....

(A) I know of NO way to segregate any minor. When a person signs up, it is the honor system to state their DOB. There is NO way for me to check and/or verify.

(B) If there was, I have no way of segregating said minors not to login between 8:00am to 4:00PM.

Granted ----- Some of these minors have an attitude and some listening issues. IF...these things bother you, move on, ignore that/those post(s). Arguing and thumping on your chest is not accomplishing anything.

So, lets move forward.

I do not remember, but when signing up here, is there a requirement to enter your DOB?
If there is, and no way to verify, why have that to fill in anyways?

After some searching, and speaking to my own website administrator.

Age verification can be tricky. There are some simple codes that can be added to the php script however they can be lied to easily. With that said there are some credit card verification scripts. These scripts are bulkier and harder to install but not impossible obviously. The problem with these. Again, They can be lied to. Apparently most of them will accept prepaid cards as verification even though there is no name on them. Also, Lots of kids have "kids debit cards" with names on them. The banks that issue however use the parents age credentials for these cards.

Roland I am guessing already researched much of this since he said it was very difficult to do.

What I did find out is this. While its nearly impossible to keep under age off your site. Website owners put these easy to pass age verification scripts up to cover their ass and thats the only reason. Now the website owner "if ever questioned" can say he lied on the verification. It releases the owner from liable.

It is part of the VBulletin Software Package.

As I have said before, and this is by no means factual or scientific, but I would venture to say, "most" of the stated dates are probably accurate.

I have seen DOB's from one day old to over 100+ yrs. Obviously the extreme dates seen, those applications are deleted.

With the Privacy Issues out there, it will be very difficult to impossible to find and verify a DOB given. :bash2:

If you suspect an applicant is a minor, you have two choices. Engage the posting or ignore it.

What they said.

Still having small kids right now, (4 amd 7) I have come to learn/realize that no matter how much I yell and scream and get angry and that I have to repeat myself a million times, I’m realizing that just being a role model, having consistency, and leading by example, making sure that I just don’t talk the talk but also walk the walk, is what works. The young man that’s on his phone during class needs to understand why this is wrong but so does his teacher (if he/she knows that is). Sharing stories of getting smacked with a paddle or a ruler on the knuckles come to mind as to why some of us know better or even as simple as writing on the chalk board 25 times as to why we wouldn’t have done something, mom waiting at home with the wooden spoon and dad afterwards with the belt, stuff like that sinks in more I think and puts it into perspective for them. I think some of the young people on here catch on to how adults, specifically like minded people on here, like us, are supposed to behave etc and if they’re already interested in this hobby then they’re one step ahead of their peers that are going down th wrong path, so again, all we can do is coach/encourage them in a way that they understand and it will work out in the long run. Just my .02, not looking for any one to agree it’s just my opinion here.

I know you aren't looking Alvy, but well said.